Alpacas are small, gentle, docile animals:  Alpacas are small in size and gentle by nature—ideal for most members of the family.  A newborn cria weighs in at 15-20 lbs and only about 90 lbs at 6 months making them an easy size to handle for school age children.

Alpaca care can teach children responsibility:  Involving kids with the daily care of the family’s alpacas teaches them responsibility and a solid work ethic.  They will soon learn that alpacas are dependent upon their owners for survival and wellbeing.  It also makes the kids feel that they are a valuable contributor to the family by giving them an important job to do.

Alpacas are great family fun:  Raising alpacas can be a great family activity.  Kids can be involved at many levels from daily care to halter training.  From participating at community festivals and events to exhibiting at alpaca shows.  Doing alpacas together as a family is truly and fun and rewarding experience that can bring the family closer together.

Alpacas and 4-H opportunities:  Many communities have an active 4-H program and more and more of these local clubs have a llama/alpaca club.  4-H is a great organization that teaches valuable life skills to 8-18 year-olds.  Kids have a blast learning together about alpaca training and daily care.  They really enjoy the opportunity to show their animals at the local county fair in showmanship, obstacle, public relations, and costume classes.

Alpacas promote the outdoors and fresh air:  Get kids (and parents!) away from TV, Computers and video games.  There is something invigorating about working and playing outdoors, especially if you normally spend most of your time indoors at work or school.  Caring for, training and showing alpacas provides great physical activity for every member of the family.

Stay at Home Mom (or Dad):  If you are searching for a home-based business that allows at least one parent to work from home at a profitable business, raising alpacas may be for you.  In fact, alpacas may be the number one business opportunity for women in America today. Many of the skills required to succeed in the alpacas business are second nature to women, including fashion sense and sales skills. They also understand the birthing process and nurturing the young cria. Women are perfectly suited for overseeing the husbandry of alpacas.

Learn new skills:  If you enjoy learning new things and working with your hands, an alpaca business may be just what you are looking for.  Fiber art skills such as spinning, weaving, knitting and felting provide countless hours of enjoyment to many people.  Selling these crafts also provide an additional source of income to the family.

Public relations (PR):  If you think you would enjoy the excitement of 3rd grader as she sees and touches an alpaca for the first time, or the joy in the eyes of an elderly patient at a local nursing home as she pets the soft fiber of an alpaca that has paid her a visit, then owing alpacas provides an opportunity to brighten up someone’s life.  Alpacas can be trained to do really well at PR.  They are just the right size to load in the back of you minivan and haul off to school or to a nursing home with ease and they do really well in the classroom.

Heritage Farm Suri Alpacas | Tim & Beth Sheets | Flora, IN | www.OurHeritageFarm.com

Make new friends:   Alpacas attract people and with that comes many opportunities to make new friends.  Participating with your alpacas at country fairs, festivals, parades, farm visits and events and livestock shows not only provides a chance for people to see your wonderful alpacas, but you and your family get to meet some really great people as well.

Ten Reasons  why Alpacas are

a Great Family Business